Back in the day, we used to grab our boogie boards and take the bus down to Seal Beach (in California). It cost 25 cents each way. Perfect for a budget-minded 6th grader and his buddies.

Side note: nobody thought it was the least bit strange for a bunch of 6th and 7th graders to go to the beach on a public bus without their parents…my how times have changed in 40 years.

That first step into the waves was always the coldest. It never failed that a wave would break right on shore, just as we were trying to slowly enter the water.

We always knew that the moment the water hit our stomachs, we might as well just dive in and swim out through the waves.

Within about thirty seconds, we were used to the water temperature. We didn’t think about it for the rest of the day. All we were thinking about was catching the next wave and buying a hot dog and a Coke for something like a dollar at lunch time.

We humans have an incredible ability to adapt. Sure, we feel the shock of a new challenge deep in our gut at first. We’ll wonder how in the world we’re going to deal with this new set of problems. But, give us a little time, and we have what it takes to not only adapt, but to overcome.

The only question is whether we choose to adapt.

It’s our choice.

We decide whether we’ll dive into the cold waves and paddle out, or retreat to the warm safety of the beach.

The beach may be safe, but the waves we’re trying to catch are out in the water.

Time to dive in and start paddling.

Photo Credit: That’s our grandson, Charlie. He’s riding his first wave on a boogie board, at Beach 69 on the Big Island, a few weeks ago. He turns 4 this weekend. Cowabunga, Charlie!